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Princess Diana Statue to Be Erected at Kensington Palace After 20 Years of Her Death

29/01/2017

A statue of Princess Diana is set to be erected on Kensington Palace grounds, at the request of her sons Prince William and Prince Harry.

This August will mark the 20th anniversary of her death. While parts of the palace are open to the public, the complex contains the princes’ homes. Harry lives alone while William shares an apartment with wife Kate Middleton and their children Prince George, 3, and Princess Charlotte, 1.

Diana who also lived in a Kensington Palace apartment raising her sons there. She also continued to live there after she and their father, Prince Charles, divorced.

Tim Graham/Getty Images

“It has been 20 years since our mother’s death and the time is right to recognize her positive impact in the U.K. and around the world with a permanent statue,” William and Harry said in a statement released by Kensington Palace Saturday.

“Our mother touched so many lives,” they said. “We hope the statue will help all those who visit when it will be unveiled. It is hoped that this will occur before the end of 2017.”

Diana was known for her charity work around the world, however she was killed in a car accident in Paris in August 1997 after being chased by paparazzi. She was 36.

William was 15 and Harry was 12 at the time. The funeral saw the British television audience peak at 32.10 million, one of the United Kingdom’s highest viewing figures ever and more than 2.5 billion people around the world.

“The princes have convened a committee to commission and privately raise funds for the creation of the statue,” the statement added. “The committee will advise on the selection of the sculptor and will work with Historic Royal Palaces on the statue’s installation in the public gardens at Kensington Palace.” Diana’s sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, and friend Julia Samuel, who is also George’s godmother, will be members of the six-person committee, The Guardian reported.